Street-sweeping machine.



J. M. HIMES.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2a, 1913.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D c.

J. M. HIMES.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1913. 1,083,932. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. M. HIMES.

STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1913.

1,083,932. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

3 SHBETSSHEET 3.

wi imaooao M17372 I 61mm,

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH COHWASHINGTON D. c

ATN @FFECE.

JAMES M. HIMES, OF OSOVEGO, NEVI -YORK.

STREET-SWEEPING MACHINE.

Application filed March 26, 1913.

To aZZ whom it may comer/I.

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. Hnrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at ()swego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Street-Sweeping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in street sweeping machines, and has particular application to machines of that type eznrfloying rotary sweepers or brushes.

in carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a street sweeping machine, whereby the dirt and refuse may be effectively removed from streets, roads and other surfaces, and subsequently carted away.

It is also my purpose to provide a machine of the class described, in which the component parts thereof will be under the complete control of the operator, and wherein by means of sweepers or brushes of various coarseness surfaces of difierent characters may be effectively acted upon or cleaned.

Furthermore, it is my intention to provide a machine of the type referred to, which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency, durability and convenience, and which may be operated and maintained at a .minin'unn expense.

\Vith the above recited objects and others of a like nature in view, the invention con in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a street sweeping machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the machine.

is a perspective view of a detail of the invention.

In the form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown a horsedrawn vehicle. It is conceivable, however, that the machine may be otherwise pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13,1914.

Serial No. 756,974.

pelled, as for instance, by steam, gasolcne, or electric motor.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, A indicates a wheeled frame composed, in the present instance, of a forward steering axle 1, a rear axle 2, and longitudinal side bars 3, 3, interconnecting the front and rear axles and extending forwardly of the front axle and rearwardly of the back axle. the rear ends of the bars being inclined downwardly, as clearly illustrated in Fig.

Suitably secured to the forward axle 1 is a bolster at, upstanding from the ends of which are stakes 5, 5, while projecting upwardly from the rear axle 2 and appropriately fastened thereto are stakes 6, 6.

The numeral 7 indicates a receptacle or box positioned upon the front and rear axles between the stakes 5 and 6, such receptacle being of any suitable construction and pr0- vided with a hinged or drop bottom 8, by means of which any material within the receptacle may be dumped.

Secured to the upper extremity of the stakes 5 and 6, at the respective sides of the wheel frame, are longitudinally extending brace bars 9, 9 terminating at their rear ends in downward extensions having the free ends thereof disposed upon the inner sides of the down *ardly inclined portions of the longitudinal .bars 3, 3 of the frame.

The rear ends of the various bars 3 and 9 are formed with alining or registering openings designed to receive suitable bearings, in which is journaled a driving shaft 10, the bearings terminating in outwardly extending sleeves 11, 11. Loosely surrounding each sleeve 11 is a lever 12 having an upwardly extending arm 13, and outwardly and downwardly projecting arms 14;. 1-4:. The free ends of the arms 14-. 14 of the levers 12, 12 are provided with alining bearings. in which are journaled and adapted for rotative movement shafts 1:); 15 disposed atthe opposite sides of and below the shaft 10, incident to the arrangement of the arms 14. 14; of the levers. Surrounding each shaft 15 and rigidly secured thereto is a sweeper or brush 16, one of the brushes being composed of fine wire or other suit able material, while the other embodies coarse wire or the like.

In the present instance, the driving mechanism for the shaft 10 comprises a sprocket wheel 1? keyed upon one end of the shaft beyond the respective lever 12, the sprocket wheel 18 of a duplex sprocket keyed upon the hub of one of the rear wheels of the ve hicle. and an endless chain 19 trained over the sprocket wheels 17 and 18 and adapted, on movement of the duplex sprocket under the action of the respective vehicle wheel, to convey rotary motion to the driving sl aft 10. In this instance, the free end of the shaft 10, beyond the respective sleeve and lever 12, has keyed thereto a gear 20 meshing with gears 21. 21 keyed upon the adjacent ends of the shafts 15, 15 carrying the sweepers or brushes 16. Thus, in the movement of the shaft 10 under the action of the driving mechanism thereof, rotary motion is imparted to both the shafts 15, 15, so that the respective brushes or sweepers are operated.

In the normal position of the levers 12, 12, that is, when the arms 13, 13 thereof are in a true vertical plane, the shafts 15, 15 are "disposed in horizontal alinement, and the sweepers thereon out of contact with the ground. In order that the levers 12, 12 maybe swung about the sleeves 11, so as to I throw oneor the other of the sweepers or brushes into-contact with the ground, I employ the following mechanism: Pivotally secured tothe upper extremity or free end of the arms 13 of each lever is a rod 22 extending forwardly of the vehicle and having the forward end thereof pivotally secured to an operating lever 23 pivoted, as at 24, upon the bolster 4, or other part of the frame, within convenient reach of the operator of the machine. said levers 23 being provided with spring pressed dogs 25 adapted to en gage rack bars 26 fastened to the brace bars 9. so as to hold the operating levers in the desired adjusted position. Thus, when the operating levers 23, 23 are thrown forwardly, the forward sweeper or brush 1G is moved into contact with the surface to be cleaned, while the rear brush or sweeper is thrown upwardly and out of contact with such surface. On the contrary, when the levers 23 are swung in a rearward direction, the rear sweeper contacts with the ground, while the forward sweeper is inactive, as far as the cleaning operation is concerned. It may be here stated that the sweepers or brushes are composed of wire or other bristles of dif ferent nature, so that one brush may be employed for cleaning surfaces covered with hard dirt or refuse, while the other sweeper may be employed for removing relatively soft dirt or refuse.

Extending downwardly and rearWardly of the rear axle are brace bars 2'? terminating below and in advance of the path of movement of the forward sweeper 16, and connected to the depending portions of the longitudinal bars?) of the frame by means of struts 28. Jourualed in the brace bars 27, adjacent to the lower ends thereof, is a drum or roller 25). while a shaft 30, carrying a drum or roller 31, is journaled in the upper ext-remities of the stakes 6, and over these drums 29 and 31 is trained an endless belt 32 constituting an elevator or conveyer, a dust pan being fastened to the lower extremities of the bars 2? beyond the drum 29. Keyed upon one end of the shaft 30 of the drum 31 is a sprocket wheel 3-1, over which and the sprocket wheel 35 of the duplex sprocket is trained an endless chain 36, whereby motion may be transmitted to the conveyer in the travel of the machine over the surface to be cleaned. This duplex sprocket is preferably loosely mounted upon the hub of the respective wheel, and is adapted to be clutched to the wheel by means of a clutch 37 adapted to be operated through the medium of a rod 38 connected to a control lever 39 located at the forward end of the machine within convenient reach of the operator, and movable over a quadrant, the latter holding the clutch controlling lever in the desired position.

As before stated, the vehicle or wheeled frame shown in this form of the invention is designed to be drawn by draft animals, such as horses or the like, and for this purpose is equipped with a pole to connected to the forward axle, a fifth wheel or the like being interposed between the bolster 4e and the forward axle to permit the turning of the axle, so that the vehicle may be driven along the desired path.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and manner of employing my street sweeping machine will be readily apparent.

In use, the machine is drawn along or over the surface to be cleaned, and in the travel of the rear wheels, rotary motion is communicated to the driving shaft 10 through the medium of th respective sprocketwheel of the duplex sprocket, the chain 19, and the sprocket 17, it being assumed, of course, that the clutch 37 has been manipulated to place the respective rear wheel in driving engagement with the duplex sprocket. As the shaft 10 rotates, the gear 20 on the free end thereof being in mesh with the gears 21, 21 on the shafts 15, causes the latter to rotate and consequently operate the sweepers or brushes 16. Simultaneously with the operation of the brushes, movement is communicated to the endless conveyer through the medium of the respective sprocket wheel of the duplex sprocket, the

chain 36 and the sprocket Bet on the shaft 30 of the drum 31, thereby rotating the endless band or belt forming the conveyer.

Should the condition of the ground warrant the coarse sweeper or brush 1.6 being put into action, the levers 93 are manipulated, so as to swing the levers 12, 12 about the sleeves to lower the coarse brush and elevate the fine brush. Now as the machine traverses the surface to be cleaned, the coarse brush throws the dirt and refuse onto the dust pan 33, whence it is delivered onto the eonveyer or elevator, and so carried into the receptacle 7. The conveyer or elevator and the sweepers are preferably housed or inclosed, so as to avoid the escape of dust into the atmosphere in the operation of the ma chine.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one particular form of my invention by way of illustration, it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction, as herein set forth, as modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the claims, and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a frame, of a pair of sweepers, connections between said sweepers and frame, means for swinging said sweepers simultaneously to move one into engagement with the ground and the other out of contact therewith, and means for driving said rollers.

52. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a frame, of a pair of sweepers, connections between said sweepers and frame, manually operable means for swinging said sweepers simultaneously to move one into engagement with the groundand the other out of contact therewith, means for driving the sweepers from one of the vehicle wheels, and means for controlling the driving connections between the respective wheel and the sweepers.

In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a frame including forward and rear axles and longitudinal side bars extending beyond the rear axle, of a pair of sweepers, connections between said sweepers and the rear ends of said bars, means for swinging said sweepers simultaneously whereby one will be moved out of engagement with the ground and the other into contact therewith, and means for driving said sweepers.

.1-. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a wheeled frame including front and rear axles and longitudinally extending side bars projecting beyond the rear axle and extending downwardly, of a driving shaft journaled in the saidextremitics of the bars, levers pivotally mounted upon said shaft at the opposite ends thereof, each lever comprising a vertical arm and outwardly and downwardly extended arms, shafts journaled in said downwardly extending arms, sweepers carried by said shafts, means for swinging saidlevers whereby the sweepers may be moved into and out of contact with the ground alternately, and n'aeans for driving said drive shaft.

5. ln a street sweeping machine, the combination with a wheeled frame including front and rear axles and longitudinally extending side bars projecting beyond the rear axle and extending downwardly, of a driving shaft journaled in the said extremities of the bars, levers pivotally mounted upon said shaft at the opposite ends thereof, each lever comprising a vertical arm and outwardly and downwardly extended arms, shafts journaled in said downwardly extending arms, driving connections between said driving shaft and the lastmentioned shafts, sweepers carried by the said last shafts, driving connections between said drive shaft and one of the vehicle wheels, and manually operable means whereby said sweepers may be swung alternately into and out of contact with the ground.

6. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a wheeled frame including front and rear axles and longitudinally extending side bars projecting beyond the rear axle and extending downwardly, and a re ceptacle mounted upon said frame, of a driving shaft journaled in the said extremities of the bars, levers pivotally mounted upon said shaft at the opposite ends thereof, each lever comprising a vertical arm and outwardly and downwardly extended arms, shafts journaled in said downwardly extending arms, driving connections between said driving shaft and the last mentioned shafts, sweepers carried by the said 'last shaft-s, driving connections between said drive shaft and one of the vehicle wheels, manually operable means whereby said sweepers may be swung alternately into and out of contact with the ground, and a conveyer interposed between said sweepers and receptacle.

T. In a street sweeping machine, the combination with a wheeled f 'aine including front and rear axles and longitudinally ex-- tending side bars projecting beyond the rear axle and extending downwardly, and a receptacle mounted upon said frame, of a driving shaft journaled in the said extremities of the bars, levers pivotally mounted upon said shaft at the opposite ends thereof, each lever comprising a vertical arm and outwardly and downwardly extended arms, shafts jouriuiled in said downwardly extending arms, driving connections between said driving shaft and the last mentioned shafts sweepers carried by the said last frame and in communication with said o0nshafts, driving connections between said veyer. 10 drive shaft and one of the vehicle wheels, In testimony whereof I affix my signature manually operable means whereby said I in presence of two witnesses.

sweepers may be swung alternately into and l JAMES M. HIMES.

out of Contact with the ground, a conveyer \Vitnesses: interposed between said sweepers and re- F. A. TILEY, ceptacle, and a dust pain carried by said O. L. MATHEWS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

